Former United Nations ambassador Richard Holbrooke is finding joy in the private sector these days.

According to footnoted.org, a favorite Bull’s Eye web site that trolls through public documents looking for such tidbits, Holbrooke serves on the board of Quebecor World, a Montreal-based print media company, and made $55,000 last year just for showing up at board meetings.

Well, maybe showing up is the wrong choice of words. He only made it to two of the firm’s eight board meetings last year.

He also pocketed a tidy $112,500 last year as part of a consulting contract that requires him to provide consulting services and make personal apperances. Maybe some of those should be at board meetings.

Plastic hearted

Their high profile split in February after 43 years of dating rocked the toy industry.

Now the gritty details of their romance are laid bare by MAD Magazine, which published Barbie’s “Dear John” letter to Ken in its latest issue.

Like so many relationships, careers got in the way.

Under the flawless plastic surface simmered a resentment that Barbie could no longer contain.

“Since we started dating, I’ve been a fashion designer, an astronaut, an animal doctor, a rock singer, an actress, a painter, a firefighter, a paleontologist, a pilot, a Marine, a lifeguard, a ballerina, a dentist, a stewardess, a sales clerk and a candidate for President,” Barbie complained. “What have you ever done?!?”

Barbie concluded the letter by explaining that she needed “some shelf space,” but hinted that the breakup might not be permanent.

“I still have fake feelings for you,” she wrote.

Party pooper

After the Securities and Exchange Commission cancelled a hearing on market structure, its official line was that it canceled “to better accommodate the schedules of participants.”

Rumors, however, included commissioners heading for vacation, Chairman William Donaldson not liking the six-panel line-up, disorganization in the division of market regulation and a concession to the NYSE, which was holding its own board meeting that day.

“It’s like getting all ready for the party and then the party is canceled,” griped one trader.